It’s the first-ever world title defense in Lockport’s history on Nov. 12
STAFF REPORTS
Less than five weeks away, Lockport’s beloved world cruiserweight champion of the world Amer Abdallah is set to make history again on Nov. 12 at Lockport’s Kenan Center Arena.
The undefeated Abdallah (17-0) will take on WKA European champion Nathan McCarthy, 23, of Newcastle, England, in his first defense of the World Kickboxing Association championship he won by knockout earlier this year at the Kenan. Abdallah’s demolition-like KO victory over British champion Daniel Hughes in May was the first world championship fight in Lock City history, making next month’s title defense the city’s historic first as well.
The 6-foot, 3-inch McCarthy is coming off a big win in Ireland last month and boasts a professional record of 23-4.
Abdallah, 38, said he was undecided if he’d continue fighting after reaching his lifelong dream of becoming a professional world champion.
“I felt too sharp and too strong to walk away at this stage of my career,” said Abdallah, who’s already been preparing for the fight for the past several weeks with his trusted trainers Dewey Cooper and Jeff Mayweather at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, where he currently resides.
“I still have a lot left in the tank,” added Abdallah. The Englishman welcomes his opportunity to fight in the United States and particularly at a title shot against Abdallah.
“His youth, height and aggressiveness won’t win him this fight. On Nov. 12, I’m taking him to school,” Abdallah said.
The co-main event in the international fight card will feature Lockport’s popular knockout specialist “Son of a Legend” Joe Taylor, who plans to build off of his 1-0 professional kickboxing record. Known for his ferocious KO style and a champion of youth causes, Taylor is coming off of his first professional MMA bout at the Seneca Niagara Casino, where he won a decisive, three-round decision.
Taylor said he’s excited to be fighting back in his hometown and promises to deliver another victory.
Also returning, is Lockport’s charismatic professional middleweight “The Candyman” Erick Plumeri (1-0). In Plumeri’s last bout at the Kenan, he out-pointed a tough and durable Evander Russ of Syracuse by decision.
Tickets are on sale at Ticketfly.com or in person at the Lockport Athletic & Fitness Club on South Transit Road.
The fight card is sponsored by local businesses Mulvey Construction, All Metal Works, KJ Motorsports, Papa Leo’s, Cain,Witlin & Dry and Seneca Poker.
While Abdallah brought Lockport its first world title fight, the city has produced a number of world-class fighters over many years, beginning with Jimmy Duffy a century ago. Duffy went to become a popular local policeman. Former heavyweight contender Tony Ventura trained under the late Angelo Dundee — the same principle cornerman for the late Muhammad Ali.
Newfane’s “Fighting School Teacher” Lockport native and retired Newfane Elementary School principal Tommy Hicks mixed textbooks with boxing gloves in a Hall of Fame career that culminated in a world light heavyweight title fight against the great Bob Foster in the early 1970s in Scranton, Pa.
The late, legendary Pat Cuillo remains a Lockport favorite, remembered and talked about fondly by his friends throughout city for the unsurpassed five world championship bouts that he fought.
Olympic hopeful Billy “Little Red” Hackmer was a beloved stick of dynamite in the ring as well and remains a local favorite. Hackmer’s fists of fury made him an inspiration to a whole generation of Lockport fight fans while making Union-Sun & Journal headlines throughout the 1970s under the late great Lockport trainer Rob D’Angelo.